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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Manchester City’s malaise: five problem areas to address | Manchester City’s malaise: five problem areas to address |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace left the champions in fourth place and staring at finishing outside the top two for the first time since 2010-11. City have seven matches remaining and even though there is a mathematical chance that the title can be retained, in essence all that remains of a concerning season is to try to avoid an insipid limp home. The hierarchy’s thoughts will already have turned to the summer and what is required to revive a team who appear to have stagnated. Here are five areas to consider. | Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace left the champions in fourth place and staring at finishing outside the top two for the first time since 2010-11. City have seven matches remaining and even though there is a mathematical chance that the title can be retained, in essence all that remains of a concerning season is to try to avoid an insipid limp home. The hierarchy’s thoughts will already have turned to the summer and what is required to revive a team who appear to have stagnated. Here are five areas to consider. |
| The manager | The manager |
| Related: Pellegrini defiant after Manchester City lose at Crystal Palace | Related: Pellegrini defiant after Manchester City lose at Crystal Palace |
| Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon al-Mubarak could – and may still – do the refreshing thing. The Manchester City owner and his chairman may recall what Manuel Pellegrini did in his first season in English football and allow the Chilean to see out the final year of his contract, at least. | Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon al-Mubarak could – and may still – do the refreshing thing. The Manchester City owner and his chairman may recall what Manuel Pellegrini did in his first season in English football and allow the Chilean to see out the final year of his contract, at least. |
| To win the Premier League, the Capital One Cup and lead City into the Champions League last 16 for the first time was a stellar achievement and may yet have banked Pellegrini enough collateral to ensure surviving a trophy‑less term. | |
| But will it? Much depends on where City finish, whether the hierarchy blame the manager or a cadre of ageing players who appear weary and require serious competition for their places, and which managers are available. If Pep Guardiola were on the market the Chilean’s sacking would be a cert. But, apparently, he is not. Carlo Ancelotti may be, but the whisper is the Real Madrid coach does not fit the profile required. The same is true of Diego Simeone at neighbouring Atlético. Brendan Rodgers from Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp from Borussia Dortmund may be considered but the truth is that the options are narrow. | |
| The executives | The executives |
| Txiki Begiristain, the sporting director, has overseen a failed recruitment policy that has spent £119.9m on 11 players of whom only Martín Demichelis and Fernandinho can be offered up as any kind of success. The chief executive, Ferran Soriano, is responsible for Uefa imposing its financial fair play sanctions that limited the club to a £49m net transfer spend for the season. Pellegrini believes that has hobbled City this term and it is noticeable how he has been pointing to the problem recently. | |
| Whether Begiristain or Soriano or both will be culled is to be decided in an end-of-season review. Yet if this were to occur what would it say and where would it leave the stated “holistic” approach of all parts of the club working for the common good? As the pair recognise the need to refresh the squad and are driving an effort to recruit younger yet still established players – Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne is one – they may survive. | |
| Goalkeeper and defence | Goalkeeper and defence |
| While there is still a question regarding Joe Hart’s ability under the high ball, he is enjoying his finest season for City and is one of the squad’s few enhanced assets. Yet the rest of the defence is the opposite, with problems in all positions. Pablo Zabaleta was dropped for the Palace loss and has often been left out of big European games – he is yet to feature against Bayern Munich under Pellegrini – while the 32-year-old Bacary Sagna is not the right-back of the future. | |
| At left-back Pellegrini continues to vacillate between Gaël Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov in a position that has been an issue for two or more seasons. Kolarov is particularly intriguing as his rudimentary defensive skills and clumsy touch would have him nowhere near, say, the Barcelona squad, the high-water mark to which City aspire. | At left-back Pellegrini continues to vacillate between Gaël Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov in a position that has been an issue for two or more seasons. Kolarov is particularly intriguing as his rudimentary defensive skills and clumsy touch would have him nowhere near, say, the Barcelona squad, the high-water mark to which City aspire. |
| Central defence is perhaps even more concerning. The £42m spent on Eliaquim Mangala is the headline disappointment of Begiristain’s transfer strategy, the Frenchman having failed to secure a place in the strongest XI, again being left out at Palace. There are also growing doubts about Vincent Kompany as the captain endures his poorest term in City colours, in which he has committed vital errors in high-profile games that have cost points. Only Demichelis is a reliable performer but he is now 34. | Central defence is perhaps even more concerning. The £42m spent on Eliaquim Mangala is the headline disappointment of Begiristain’s transfer strategy, the Frenchman having failed to secure a place in the strongest XI, again being left out at Palace. There are also growing doubts about Vincent Kompany as the captain endures his poorest term in City colours, in which he has committed vital errors in high-profile games that have cost points. Only Demichelis is a reliable performer but he is now 34. |
| Midfield | Midfield |
| The future of Yaya Touré is in the balance – the club will countenance offers in the close season – and Fernando has been a failure during his first season. This leaves only Fernandinho as a clearly desired member of the engine room. Pellegrini may have missed a trick here as James Milner wants to operate in defensive midfield but the manager has, in the main, refused to choose him there. | The future of Yaya Touré is in the balance – the club will countenance offers in the close season – and Fernando has been a failure during his first season. This leaves only Fernandinho as a clearly desired member of the engine room. Pellegrini may have missed a trick here as James Milner wants to operate in defensive midfield but the manager has, in the main, refused to choose him there. |
| Of the attacking players in this department, Samir Nasri has been dropped recently and Jesús Navas lacks variety to his race-along-the wing-then-cross style, and thus David Silva is the sole shining light, one of only two players at the club – Sergio Agüero is the other – whom Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich covet. | |
| Attack | Attack |
| Agüero is a supreme talent – the lethal finisher who this year elevated his game before again being hampered by injury, though there have still been 23 goals in 35 outings. Beyond the Argentinian, the fault line that runs through defence and midfield continues. Wilfried Bony has looked promising but is yet to consistently prove himself since arriving in January, while larger question marks can be placed against the names of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic. | |
| Conclusion | Conclusion |
| At least one full-back, a central defender, a defensive and an attacking midfielder and a forward are required. The manager’s position is in grave doubt and the two highest-ranking on-the-ground executives can expect serious questions of them. It promises to be a seismic summer at Manchester City. | At least one full-back, a central defender, a defensive and an attacking midfielder and a forward are required. The manager’s position is in grave doubt and the two highest-ranking on-the-ground executives can expect serious questions of them. It promises to be a seismic summer at Manchester City. |